Guest Post by Vickie Marre, Weigle Information Commons Intern

Canvas offers three simple ways to add video to a course site via the Rich Content Editor: recording original videos, uploading video files, and linking to YouTube videos. Canvas features that support the Rich Content Editor include Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and Syllabus. For step-by-step instructions for adding videos in these three ways, see the Rich Content Editor chapter in the Canvas Instructor Guide, which is frequently updated and also includes information about adding other media, such as images and audio files.

Instructors can record original videos in Canvas for a variety of purposes, including creating welcome messages at the start of the semester or posting live, how-to instructions to assist with particular assignments. Students can record video to share with other students or to submit course projects. Some instructors have begun using videos in Canvas as the basis for their lecture material, freeing up class time for hands-on exercises and discussion.

Canvas accepts a variety of video files to upload via the Rich Content Editor, making it easy for instructors to create and reuse course videos. Here is how an uploaded video appears on a Page in Canvas:

Finally, users can link to YouTube videos directly in Canvas so that no extra Web navigation is necessary. Simply paste the video’s YouTube URL into the Rich Content Editor (step 1), and Canvas will display a message that your link will be replaced with an embedded YouTube video. Then, your video will appear when you finish editing the Page (step 2). Here’s how it works:

Step 1:

Step Two:

And voila! It is that simple to embed cat videos educational videos into your course site. We are happy to help you work with video in Canvas. Our Canvas support team is here to help with any questions or concerns; please email us at canvas@pobox.upenn.edu.

Last Updated: 2 Oct 2013